Liam Worton, 31, of Chatsworth Drive, Hucknall, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for robbing a shop worker at Peppers Stores in Hucknall. The robbery took place on January 7, 2023, when Worton threatened the shop assistant, claiming he was armed with a knife.
Worton first appeared on CCTV stealing eight cans of lager from the store. About an hour later, he returned, his face covered, and demanded that the cashier open the till, asserting that he had a knife in his pocket. Fearing for her safety, the assistant complied, and Worton stole over £860 in cash before fleeing the scene.
Police swiftly identified Worton as a suspect and arrested him in Hucknall less than an hour later. Following house-to-house inquiries and the use of CCTV footage and forensic evidence, detectives were able to build a solid case against him.
During questioning, Worton denied the offence, but the evidence gathered was overwhelming. He pleaded guilty to robbery and shop theft at Nottingham Crown Court, where he was sentenced to two years and eleven months in prison. Detective Constable Christine Hewlett remarked on the significant distress caused to the victim, who had feared for her safety during the robbery.